Park Geun-hye, South Korea's Ousted President, Is Formally Indicted : The Two-WayPark, who was impeached and removed from power, faces charges that range from bribery to the leaking of state secrets. The bribery charge alone carries a possible life sentence in prison.

Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye Is Formally Indicted

Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for a hearing in late March. Arrested shortly after that hearing, Park has now been formally indicted on corruption charges.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
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Ahn Young-joon/AP

Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for a hearing in late March. Arrested shortly after that hearing, Park has now been formally indicted on corruption charges.

Ahn Young-joon/AP

South Korea's ousted President Park Geun-hye has been formally indicted on corruption charges. Impeached by lawmakers late last year and officially removed from office by the country's high court last month, the former leader now faces the prospect of life in prison.

South Korean prosecutors brought charges Monday that range from bribery and coercion to abuse of power and the leaking of government secrets. The New York Times reports the criminal charges, which totaled 13 when she was taken into custody, now number up to 18.

"In addition to allegations Park colluded with her friend Choi Soon-sil in coercing local conglomerates to donate a total of 77.4 billion won (US$68 million) to two nonprofit foundations — Mir and K-Sports — the ex-leader is also accused of soliciting bribes from Lotte and SK groups.

"Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was put on trial on charges of giving 7 billion won to the K-Sports Foundation, allegedly controlled by Choi.

"SK Group avoided prosecution as it did not give 8.9 billion won in donations sought by the former president."

As we've reported, the sprawling scandal has also snared Lee Jae-yong, de facto chief of South Korea's largest conglomerate, Samsung. Lee, who also goes by the name Jay Y. Lee, faces allegations he approved bribes of more than $38 million directed toward Choi's private slush fund.